The large island of Phuket in southern Thailand is a place of contrasts: it is a holiday paradise and tourist hell at the same time. On the one hand there are endless sandy beaches, luxurious resorts and even a piece of untouched nature. On the other hand, there is the worst excess of mass tourism in Thailand and a real traffic problem. So you would rather not take a vacation in Phuket? No way! In our Phuket travel report we give you tips and information about sights and leisure activities - and we would like to share our experiences from the infamous adventure island with you.

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Colorful advertising posters, honking mopeds rushing past you from left and right, modern new co-working spaces next to cheap and run-down hotels on every corner, massage parlors and stalls as far as the eye can see. Ominous streams of money from all over Asia are flowing into the island, fueling an unbroken construction boom.

Tourists walking topless and carrying shopping bags along busy main streets without sidewalks. Anyone traveling on Phuket cannot do without a certain dose of shame for their fellow tourists.

Video – The 33 Best Things to Do in Phuket

Below I have selected a video for you in which many exciting things to do on Phuket are presented. When you are on the island, you can be inspired by these activities and choose the most beautiful ones.

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Insanely many options on Phuket

“In my experience, Phuket is a place where you have an incredible number of options,” tells me Dirk Idziaszek, who has lived on Phuket for six years and has his own home there Hotel operates. “In Phang Nga National Park you can explore James Bond Island with its emerald green waters and fantastic rock formations. The Samet Nang She viewpoint overlooking the national park should be experienced at sunrise or sunset.”

Thailand's large, diverse island

The old town of Phuket with Thalang Road offers culture and culinary diversity. Patong with Bangla Road has an exciting nightlife and many shopping opportunities. The north of Phuket around Mai Khao Beach invites you to relax - the rest is more of a 'Thailand light holiday'," reports the Thailand expert and gives me valuable Phuket insider tips for my stay.

In my experience, Phuket is a place where you have so many options.

Dirk Idziaszek, Phuket expert

I recognize the many facets of Phuket

On the other side there is a fantastically green jungle, beaches like from a picture book, crystal clear water and a "best time" South of Thailand, which fortunately is from December to the end of March - exactly when it is the depths of winter in Germany. And yes, they also exist on Phuket, the more or less untouched corners of the island, where travelers who expect more from their vacation than an all-inclusive package holiday in a mediocre hotel will also get their money's worth.

Emerging economic region in Southeast Asia

Add to that strong economic growth, super-fast internet to every last corner, a playground for IT experts and web developers from all over the world, supermarkets with a range of goods like those in the USA and branches of large international corporations. Phuket is more than a rural holiday region full of grubby tourists - the island is a real juggernaut - a melting pot in which many things come together.

There are several Phuket travel reports. I want to show the island as it really is and I have it in mine Travelogue from Phuket compiled tips and information about sights and leisure activities. I would like to bring you my real and authentic experiences from the infamous adventure island.

What you should know about Phuket

My experience reports about the infamous adventure island

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Phuket travel tips – what makes the island special?

A quick overview

• Phuket is the largest island in Thailand
• the island is an emerging economic region in Southeast Asia
• Phuket has fantastically beautiful beaches and an excellent tourist infrastructure with many good hotels
• Unfortunately, the destination is also known for some terrible sins of mass tourism
• Phuket is an incredibly diverse travel destination and offers a number of leisure activities and sights
• The island still has some relatively untouched, beautiful places - we will introduce them to you

My Phuket experiences – loud, crowded, adventurous

When I write this travel report from Phuket, I have already been to the island twice and was able to experience the travel destination again from a completely new perspective. This allows me to look at the destination in a more differentiated and clearer way than after the first trip, which in retrospect still seemed like quite an adventure.

When you go to a holiday destination for the first time, you perceive everything relatively selectively because it is new and unknown. On the second visit I have one for ten days Sailing holiday in Thailand (review) and then extended it with a week's vacation on land - a great idea, as it turned out later.

I'm in a Starbucks in Phuket,
mobile network is faster than at home.
Maybe this vacation will bring me
other cultures close.
I'm in a Starbucks in Phuket,
served by a waitress from Mainz.

Alligatoah, Musician

These lyrics describe Phuket surprisingly well. Anyone looking for naturalness and originality is definitely in the wrong place here and should look a few hundred kilometers further into northern Thailand. Of course, you can also experience Thai culture on Phuket - but it's certainly better in less touristy parts of the country. And so my impressions from my first visit to Phuket were confirmed quite quickly the second time: In many places it is loud, crowded and incredibly touristy.

At first you get the wrong impression

At least at first glance - when you leave the airport and drive across the island with your driver. Can you blame the residents? At the same time, Phuket is also on the way into the future, an emerging growth region - as can be seen in the shopping malls, the co-working spaces and the international brands that are opening their branches everywhere. By the way, the internet is noticeably better than in Germany and extends to every corner of the island.

On the sailing trip I had a mobile network miles away from land - in Germany the network coverage at the town exit sign is already noticeably decreasing. This may not be so important for the average beach vacationer, who will probably put their smartphone aside more often on vacation anyway. The good technical infrastructure attracts programmers and IT experts from all over the world - a factor that greatly enhances the island's value (and will probably also make it significantly more expensive in the next few years).

The further south of Phuket, the more beautiful

And now comes the highlight: At the beginning of the second visit, I noticed for the first time that Phuket becomes more beautiful the further south you go. The landscape becomes more idyllic, the towns are smaller and the beaches appear more well-kept. At the very southern tip of the island there is actually a little paradise waiting for everyone who makes the journey down here.

As a reward there are great hotels in the higher category, paradisiacal beaches and overall slightly fewer holidaymakers than on the rest of the island. The south is the most beautiful corner of the island - and after the sporty sailing trip, I check into my wellness detox resort here, which I painstakingly researched before the trip.

The extreme south seems to me to be by far the most beautiful corner of the island. However, with one exception: the eternally long sandy beaches north of the airport at Mai Khao are also incredibly great. I spent three days there before the sailing trip and was really impressed. Apparently most holidaymakers head straight from the airport to southern climes. Mai Khao and the northern tip of Phuket are therefore a little less touristy. There are only a few premium hotels from the large international hotel chains here.

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The island gets more beautiful towards the southern and northern tips

My most important insight about Phuket

And now comes the highlight: At the beginning of my second visit, I realized for the first time that Phuket gets more and more beautiful the further south you go. The landscape becomes more idyllic, the villages smaller, the beaches better maintained. In the very south of the island, a little paradise awaits everyone who sets out to get there. As a reward, there are great upscale hotels, some of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket and overall a little less vacationers than on the rest of the island.

Sights on Phuket

What do you absolutely have to see?

In my opinion, the south of Phuket is the most beautiful corner of the island of Phuket - and this is where I check in after the sporty sailing trip Wellness detox resort one that I researched meticulously before the trip. The extreme south seems to me to be by far the most beautiful corner of the island because it is much quieter and more dignified than many other places on the island. It's still crowded down here, but not nearly as crowded as other places.

In the very south are some of Phuket's most beautiful sights such as the Phrom Thep Monastery temple. If you want it to be similarly quiet and don't want to go quite as far to the south of the island, there is a similarly beautiful area right up in the north: the endless sandy beaches north of the airport at Mai Khao are also incredibly paradisiacal and comparatively quiet.

Three days in the north in Mai Khao

I spent three days there in the north before the sailing trip and was thrilled. Of course, most holidaymakers head straight from the airport to southern climes - often to the west of the island to Kamala or Patong. Mai Khao and the northern tip of Phuket are therefore a little less touristy. There are only a few luxury hotels from the large international hotel chains here.

My trip to Phuket was a fascinating journey of discovery, ranging from majestic temples to tranquil islands. One of the first highlights was the impressive Big Buddha, a huge white marble Buddha statue that majestically watches over the island. The sight of the Buddha perched high on a hill was breathtaking and the panoramic views from up there were simply spectacular. The drive to the Big Buddha was challenging because of the steep roads, but it was definitely worth the effort.

Phuket Town and Koh Sire

Then I went to Phuket Town and Koh Sire. I was particularly fascinated by the lively mix of modern city life and traditional culture in Phuket Town. The old Chinese shophouses and the British colonial temples made me feel like I was traveling back in time. In contrast, the island of Koh Sire, accessed via a bridge, offered a tranquil escape with stunning beaches and a peaceful atmosphere.

One of the spiritual centers of my trip was Wat Chalong Temple, the largest and most important Buddhist temple on Phuket. The ornate decorations and magnificent colors of the pagodas were a true work of art and offered a deep insight into Thai culture and spirituality.

A highlight: the Promthep Kap

Another unforgettable moment was my visit to Laem Promthep, known as Promthep Cape. This viewpoint offered one of the most impressive views of Phuket, especially at sunset. The mix of the golden light of the setting sun and the calm sea was magical.

The island of Koh Lon, a small paradise off Rawai, offered me a welcome break from the hustle and bustle. The island is uninhabited and offers some of Phuket's most beautiful, secluded sandy beaches. The clear water and calm atmosphere were perfect for relaxing and enjoying nature.

Be sure to visit food markets

A culinary highlight was the visits to the food markets in Phuket. The variety of freshly prepared dishes was overwhelming. From delicious pasta dishes to fresh fish and vegetables, it was a feast for the senses.

My visit to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary was an emotionally moving experience. It was heartwarming to see how mistreated elephants were cared for and respected at this sanctuary. Equally inspiring was the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, where I learned more about protecting this endangered species.

Waterfalls and national parks are worth seeing

The numerous waterfalls on Phuket, such as the Kathu and Bang Pae waterfalls, offered me refreshing moments amidst the lush nature. The cool, clear water was a wonderful relief from the tropical heat.

At the end of my trip, I explored Sirinat National Park, an untouched natural wonder right next to the airport. The pristine beaches and mangrove forests were breathtaking, and the underwater world with its colorful coral reefs was an absolute highlight.

Discover Phuket by scooter or rental car

After a few days of relaxation, wellness and detox at the Jungle Resort, I feel like going on an adventure vacation again. So I rent a scooter for the rest of the time to explore the parts of Phuket I haven't seen yet. One of them is the island of Koh Sire, which is right next to Phuket City and which I have never seen before.

The island is incredibly easy to discover and explore by scooter. In many places you can rent a small two-wheeler for the equivalent of ten euros or less per day. One thing in advance: be careful when driving. The greatest danger to life and limb lurks on Phuket's streets. Every year, several holidaymakers die in accidents with rental cars or scooters on Phuket.

Take good care of yourself and your vehicle

However, if you pay attention to your vehicle, you can not only explore the island comfortably, but also have a lot of fun driving. The roads are generally well developed. There are several north-south connections and also cross connections on Phuket, so that in principle you can get from one place on the island to another relatively quickly.

Experience has shown that driving on the island is a bit strenuous, especially at peak times and in the Phuket City area. The traffic jams there are hellish and you can hardly make any progress even with a scooter. Otherwise, the scooter is the first choice for exploring all the sights.

You need strong nerves to drive on Phuket

Only very experienced drivers with strong nerves should rent a car. A large and well-known German car rental company with an English "6" in the name simply canceled my rental car without giving a reason, although it had been confirmed to me beforehand - I have never experienced anything like this, as I usually take a car at every destination. Who knows what that was good for. So I took a two-wheeler for the entire stay and rode it across the island for several days.

The smallest scooters drive a little faster than in Germany, you can reach 50 to 60 km/h - the top speed is even 80 km/h. I was there in an hour and a half. In a maximum of one and a half hours you can get from the extreme south to the extreme north. In one week I drove my scooter to all the important sights and of course the most beautiful beaches on the island - only to come to the conclusion that it is most beautiful in the very south of Phuket at Cape Krating.

Leisure activities on Phuket

Surfing, SUP, Diving, Hiking, Cruising - What to do in Phuket?

You definitely won't get bored in Phuket. You have so many opportunities to do something. If you lead an active lifestyle and enjoy sports, Phuket really gives you every opportunity to move around throughout the day. For example, I went jogging every evening, rode around on my scooter all day, went hiking in the jungle, took long walks on the beach and meditated at the Big Buddha.

Phuket is the island of 1000 possibilities. When doing any leisure activity, you need to be especially careful about traffic - road traffic on land and boat traffic on water.

Activities on land

If you want to be active on Phuket, you really have all options open. You can do what I do and go jogging every evening. It was just too hot in the sun during the day. I also combined jogging with sightseeing and always explored new places on the island during my runs.

In addition, I not only borrowed the comfortable scooter, but also a bicycle to explore the area in a larger area. If you prefer to walk, you can go hiking or try Nordic walking. In particular the region in the very south on the Baan Krating Peninsula or in the very north in the Sirinat National Park. Phuket is a very exciting, tropical travel destination for hikers.

water activities

If you're a real water lover like me, you'll also be in great hands on Phuket. I did stand up paddling almost every day - one of my favorite sports. You can do it wonderfully on many beaches because there are surfboard rentals everywhere. The island is also ideal for snorkeling and diving. There are numerous European-run diving schools with which you can plan diving trips and go on snorkeling trips. For example, I traveled with the Sea Bees Phuket, which I can highly recommend.

You can also try out some real water sports and go on a sailing tour and discover the island world around Phuket. I did a multi-day tour from Phuket and traveled a long way across the Andaman Sea. You can also go jet skiing quite cheaply on Phuket – an exciting experience that I tried out.

Wellness and detox

Phuket offers a variety of wellness and detox options that are good for your body and soul. Whether you choose a traditional Thai massage, aromatherapy, herbal treatment or facial cleansing, you'll feel like a new person afterwards. The wellness and detox offers on Phuket are not only affordable, but also high quality.

However, you should make sure to choose a reputable and hygienic salon that has good reviews from other customers. You can search for recommendations online or get advice from your hotel or accommodation. A good massage will cost you around ten euros per hour, but you can also book longer or shorter sessions. Let yourself be pampered and enjoy the healing effects of the wellness and detox treatments on Phuket.

Phuket's beaches to dream and enjoy

When I visited Phuket, I always did beach spotting and stopped on my scooter at the bays that seemed most beautiful to me. I also always had bathing suits with me in case I felt like going for a bath or swimming somewhere.

Many beaches were just so beautiful that I couldn't help but stop and spend some time there. The most beautiful beach I saw on Phuket was right next to my hotel - the Baan Krating Resort on the peninsula of the same name.

It was called Ao Sane Beach. Although it is a private beach, it is open to the public. The reward for the slightly longer route: a paradisiacal beach with crystal clear water, a swing on the beach and surrounded by dense jungle.

But there is another treasure nearby that I stopped at almost every day. Located between Nai Harn and Rawai, right in front of the famous Laem Promthep (Promthep Cape). Ya Nui Beach. In my opinion, this is also one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.

In contrast to Ao Sane Beach, there is always a lot going on here. Holidaymakers flock here to sunbathe, splash in the water, go kayaking or do stand-up paddling. Snorkelers also get their money's worth here, as the offshore reef reveals a breathtaking underwater world. I combined stand up paddling with snorkeling here by paddling up to the reef and then jumping into the water.

Other recommended beaches

In addition to the beautiful beaches in the deep south of Phuket, I can also recommend the beaches in the southwest. These include Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach and Karon Beach. These bays are the ones that can also be seen from the popular Karon View Point. All three are very large and well attended, have beautiful water and you can even do water sports like surfing.

If you want to head further north, you can visit Mai Khao Beach right at the airport. I felt very comfortable there because this beach is also not very busy and is still quite natural. The surrounding area is very quiet and peaceful and there are no hotels or restaurants nearby, which helps keep the beach so pristine and natural. However, when I was there there were several hotels under construction - so things may not be quite as relaxed there now.

Relaxed beach life in Rawai

This may not be an insider tip, but it is at least a relaxed alternative to the other beaches mentioned - Rawai Beach in the southeast of Phuket. There you can take long walks, find numerous beach bars and even have the opportunity to paddle a kayak to the neighboring island of Koh Lon. I had a really good time at this beach too. It is very different from the other beaches mentioned because there are a relatively large number of private properties with beach houses right on the beach. This creates a very pleasant atmosphere.

My hotel insider tip: Baan Krating Resort on the Laem Krating Peninsula

Phuket's last real bungalow resort between jungle and dream beach

When the driver takes me from the Yacht Haven Marina in the far north of Phuket to the far south, I not only have an endless hour and a half drive along the winding roads of the southwest ahead of me, but I'm also a little unsure whether I've found the right hotel for the next one week I chose. It is located at the southernmost tip of Phuket in the middle of the jungle.

Before the trip I had decided to go with Detox and Wellness: to really relax and unwind. I have already visited a number of hotels and apartments on Phuket - but the Baan Krating Resort Phuket particularly impressed me. That's why I would definitely recommend it to you for your trip.

So I opted for the most remote and supposedly lonely resort I could find: the Baan Krating Resort on the Laem Krating headland in the far south of Phuket. To get there we had to leave all paved roads and actually ended up in the middle of nowhere. But a beautiful nowhere, far away from the crowded tourist places - wonderful! Located in the middle of the jungle, on a slope, the resort was so well hidden that we would never have found it without good smartphone navigation.

And the long journey was worth it: The Baan Krating Resort is the last real bungalow resort on Phuket that has not yet been luxuriously renovated. The bungalows are built in the middle of the jungle and surround the main building with the restaurant and reception. In the evening the whole rainforest comes to life, you are really in the middle of nature and Wildlife of Thailand. From the bungalows it is only a few meters down to Ao Sane Beach, a small dream beach at the foot of the resort, which is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket.

The bungalows are a bit dated - ok - but the prices are quite cheap at around 60 euros per night for a hotel of this type (I booked through a major German tour operator, prices vary). The breakfast is good - not very varied, but tasty. Good enough to fill you up.

The staff are brilliant – they are incredibly friendly and put all their effort into looking after the guests. So one thing becomes clear to me relatively quickly: I've hit the jackpot with the Baan Krating Resort - and for the first time on Phuket I've discovered a real insider hotel tip.

Website: Baan Krating Resorts - Book here*

Travel facts for Phuket and Thailand

Phuket is quite simple in itself and an ideal travel destination for beginners in Southeast Asia. Overall, you can't really go wrong on the island. We'll give you some valuable Phuket tips for getting there, the best time to travel, how to handle money and a few other important tips.

Arrival in Phuket

The island of Phuket can be easily reached from Europe by plane How to get there is comparatively easy. From the major airports there are direct flights to either Bangkok or Phuket. Alternatively, there are also daily flights to Southeast Asia via Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There are also two very short and attractive flight routes via Helsinki and Moscow that vacationers in Thailand can use. In the low season a flight sometimes costs less than 500 euros, in the high season the prices for the outward and return flights can rise to over 1200 euros.

Best time to go to Phuket

The best travel time for Phuket is between the beginning of December and the end of March. The rainy season ends in November and from December onwards it becomes increasingly sunny. The number of rainy days continues to decrease - the dry season lasts from January to March. The temperatures are a pleasant 32 to 35 degrees Celsius throughout. If this temperature is too high for you, let me tell you: after a few hours, or at the latest after a few days, you will get used to the high temperatures on Phuket. At the end of my four-week trip, I was actually freezing at a nighttime temperature of 24 degrees.

Map Phuket

Many people who travel to the island for the first time ask themselves: where Phuket is located. You can see this very well on a Google Maps map and classify the location in the larger context.

Money and payments

The national currency in Thailand is baht. The currency continues to appreciate against the euro - which means that holidays in Thailand are becoming more and more expensive. While the exchange rate was 1 to 50 a few years ago and still 1 to 38 when I was in Thailand for the first time, the exchange rate was recently 1 to 33. This means that you get around 2019 baht for one euro in December 33. You should definitely bring enough cash with you on your Phuket trip.

Cash can be exchanged quickly and cheaply on site. Or you can choose a credit card that allows you to withdraw money abroad for free. In the worst case scenario, you will pay up to 15 euros per withdrawal. Cash still tends to be the trump card in Thailand - I had various problems with my credit cards being accepted.

FAQs Phuket – the most important questions and answers

Many people who travel to Thailand and Phuket for the first time ask themselves a few essential questions: Where is the most beautiful place on Phuket? How long should I stay in Phuket? And if I want to continue traveling from the island, which islands can I visit from Phuket? Another important question is how big Phuket actually is? Finally, planning also includes how to get around on site. We have clarified the most important questions for you in advance.

Where is the most beautiful place in Phuket?

The answer to the question “Where is the most beautiful place in Phuket?” is of course not that easy to answer - especially because it is very subjective and a lot is a matter of taste. In my opinion, the southern tip with Cape Krating, Nai Harn Beach and Promphet Cape is the most beautiful part of Phuket. There are relatively small towns, upscale hotels and there is actually still a lot of untouched nature to discover.

However, if you want a little more excitement and hustle and bustle, you are better off in the southwest of the island. The holiday resorts of Kata, Karon and Patong are located there. The area around Surin Beach is also quite beautiful. This is about halfway up and is therefore a little quicker to reach. The region north of the airport is also a real Phuket insider tip.

There are eternally long, extensive sandy beaches there. In addition, this region is not yet overly frequented and you can actually find some peace and quiet there. Apart from that, the airport's approach path is a real attraction because the planes approach there directly over the beach - similar to Sint Maarten.

How long to stay in Phuket?

The question “How long to stay in Phuket?” Also has to be answered very individually: I would plan three to four days for a stay on the beach. During this time you can enjoy the relaxed beach life, some swimming and some water sports like snorkeling and stand up paddling. If you want to take a closer look at the island, you should plan at least five to seven days to go on several tours and have one or the other day at the beach in between.

Which islands to visit from Phuket?

Most vacationers who come to Phuket will sooner or later travel to Koh Phi Phi. That seems to have established itself as an unwritten law. Because obviously this seems to be particularly obvious. I think: a big mistake! Because Koh Phi Phi is an incredibly touristic and built-up island, which in my opinion is not as beautiful as it appears in many pictures. You can certainly take a look at this island to see it, but I wouldn't want to stay there for a long time.

The most beautiful islands from Phuket

Therefore, the question remains: which islands to visit from Phuket? If you really want to do a nice island tour from Phuket, you actually have two options: Either you do the tour to Koh Lanta, Koh Muk (Koh Mook) down to Koh Lipe. The second option is to fly from Phuket airport to Koh Samui and visit the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. If you have the time and desire, you can complete both island hopping routes one after the other. The islands mentioned are true dream islands, which in my opinion are all much more beautiful than Koh Phi Phi.

How big is the island of Phuket?

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and covers a total of 576 square kilometers - about 50 kilometers from north to south and 22 kilometers from west to east. It takes about an hour to get from the north to the south without traffic, and an hour and 30 minutes with traffic. Most of the distances on the island can be covered within 30 to 45 minutes outside of rush hour.

Is Phuket Vacation Dangerous For Vacationers?

Some time ago I wrote an article about whether there are dangers lurking on vacation in Thailand. Of course, these also apply to the holiday island of Phuket. Many people ask themselves, especially before their first trip to Thailand, whether a Phuket vacation is dangerous. I would answer that with “tend to be rather harmless, as long as you behave decently and inconspicuously.” You can find more detailed information at Foreign Office.

Of course, there are numerous difficulties and faux pas that lie in wait for vacationers. However, overall they are no more than in many other holiday countries. If you want to know exactly what you should do or not do on your Thailand vacation, you can take a look at our article.

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Travel report Phuket – tips and experiences on a wild, adventurous island

My detailed conclusion

When it comes to Phuket, there is hardly any other travel destination where you have to look at the whole package. The island is notorious for its dark sides - especially for the somewhat dingy party places like Patong. But just as Mallorca is more than the baller man, Phuket is more than Patong. If you see for yourself on site, it quickly becomes clear that there are a number of highlights on Phuket that make the island an absolute top travel destination in Thailand and all of Southeast Asia.

The idyllic south coast, the numerous dream beaches everywhere and the long sandy beaches in the north, the partly still natural jungle, the waterfalls, the surrounding islands, the Elephant Sanctuary and some really great hotels. I view Phuket quite critically, but the bottom line is that I have become a real Phuket fan after the second visit and can hardly wait to travel there next time - because all good things come in threes and on the island there are between them all There are a lot of good and remarkable things in the hustle and bustle, as hopefully became clear in my travel report from Phuket with tips and experiences.

Have you already been to Phuket or are you currently planning your first trip to the paradise island? Which places would you like to see? Which insider tips can you recommend? Share your experiences in the comments.